Through a vote by local residents and business owners, the North Shore community has selected “Chattanooga Music Man” by Pittsburgh artist James Simon for permanent installation at the corner of Woodland and Frazier avenues.
Approximately 1,300 votes were cast over a two-week period for one of three finalists chosen by the North Shore Public Art Committee, with “Music Man” being the top pick of more than half of respondents.
“The fiddler ties into Chattanooga’s rich music and working class culture, both past and present,” said Simon in his proposal for the 8-by-4-foot “Chattanooga Music Man,” which is crafted from clay covered with plaster molds and cast in glass-reinforced architectural concrete.
Renderings of the three finalists were created by Chattanooga-based augmented reality company SecondSite, allowing viewers to experience what the pieces would look like in the spatial context of what would be their permanent setting if selected.
While community members played a role in the piece’s selection, no taxpayer dollars were used to fund the project, according to Brian Smith, public relations coordinator for the city of Chattanooga’s Parks and Recreation Department.